Machine for cutting leather, &amp;c., into continuous strips.



No. 874,102. PATENTED DEC. I7, 1907. F. W. MERRICK.

MACHINE POR CUTTING LEATHER, zo., INTO CONTINUOUS STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.44 Ik@ @www PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

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No. 874,102. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907. 'I'. W. MERRIGK.

ING LEATHER, 65o., INTO CONTINUOUS STRIPS.

MACHINE POR GUTT APPLICATION Hmm FEB. 7. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET s.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. MERRICK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. MERRICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county vof Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for("Iutting Leather and other Sheet Material into Continuous Strips, ofwhich the following is, a specication, reference being had Y drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l shows in plan a machine containing the saidembodiment `of the invention, the right hand portions of the main bedand the work-supporting table of the said machine being broken away.Fig. 2 shows the said machine in side elevation, with the same omission.For the sake of clearness, the cylindrical weight which preferablyconstitutes the upper member of the central clamp for the sheet materialis represented in vertical section. elevation of the machine, lookingfrom the right hand side in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view inside elevation looking from the right in Figs-1 and 2, showing mainlythe feed-rolls and the knife, with certain portions of the rolls brokenaway in order to illustrate more clearly the relation between the rollsand the working edge of the knife. Fig. 5 isa detail view, 'artly insection on a horizontal plane immediately below the under surface of thework-supporting table, as indicated by the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 3.Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relative positions of the knife,feed-rolls, etc.

The main bed of the machine is represented at 1. At 2 is awork-supporting table which is mounted upon vertical supports 3, 3,Figs. 2 and 3, rising from the bed 1. Upon the bed 1, beyond andvadjacent to one end of the work-su porting table 2, are =mounted thestandar s 4, 41, supporting theknife, the

Fig. 3 is an en'dTA Specicaton of Letters Patent. A Application filedFebruary 7, 1903. Serial No. 142,269.

l. i MACHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER, &c., INTO CONTINUOUS STRIPS.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

feed-rolls, and the operating connections of the feed-rolls. The sheetof material, as 5, which is tov be cut into a continuous strip,

lies upon the upper surface ofthe work-su 60 porting table 2,-it beingshown in full lines in Fig. l and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Themechanism by which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention thesaid sheet is fed transversely or diametrically with` relation to theknife in order to occasion a continuous spiral out and secure therequired width of strip is mainly located between the work-su portingtable 2 and the bed 1.

The sii process of being formed into a narrow strip y a continuousspiral cut, and the said strip is designated 51. The knife by which thesheet 5 is cut into the stri 51 -is designated 6. The said knife and thehoII same may be variously constructed and arranged. In the presentinstance, the knife is mounted in a fixed position upon a projection orextension 42. of the standard 41,

and is held with its cutting edge in a plane sharpened, the rear part ofthe knife being received within and between the engaging portions of thejaws 6,1, 62. Jaw 61 is shown as integral with the standard 41, whilejaw 62 is shown formedas a separate plate resting upon the horizontalupper portion of the extension 42 of the standard 41. The stem of ascrew 63 passes through a hole made through the loose jaw 62, thethreaded p0rtion of said stem beingreceived in a threaded hole that istapped in the extension 42 of the 95 standard 41.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower jaw 61 'is formed with atransverse groove or depression to receive the lower edge of the knife6, and both jaws are formed with vertical faces, as shown in the saidfigures, against which one side of the knife rests. By the said grooveand vertical faces the knife is retained in the required plane.

Before beginning operation on the machine, the sheet 5 is trimmed to acircular or disk-like form, and when the sheet is placed upon the uppersurface of the work-supporting table 2 its marginal portion closelyadjacent- .the periphery of the sheet is presented to the cutting edgeofthe knife. For the purpose-of rotating the said sheet and advancing iNfA eet l5 is represented in Fig. 1 as in 70 ding means for the 75 'arelocated immediately adjacent the cutting edge of the knife, as mostclearly indicated in Fig. 4, and so as to clamp the marginal portion' ofthe sheet between them at points corresponding closely with the cuttingpoint.

In some embodiments of the invention, the arrangement of the feed-rolls,the construction thereof, and the means of supporting and operating thefeed-rolls, may vary from the referred arrangement which 1s illustratedin t e accompanying drawings. In the'said drawings, the lower feed-roll7 is mounted upon the inner end of the shaft 71, which latter isjournaled in suitable bearings that are yprovided therefor in thestandards 4, 41. The said shaft, in the present instance, is the drivingshaft for the feed-rolls. It may have employed in connection therewithin practice any suitable means for transmitting rotarymovement thereto.I have shown the said shaft 71 as equip ed'with a band-pulley 72 for thereception o a driving-y band for the transmission of power to the shaft71 from a counter-shaft or the like. The shaft 81 of the upper feed-roll8 is mounted in bearings in a swinging carryingframe 82. The latter ishung or pivoted to the. upper ends of the standards 4, 41, as shown bestin Figs. 1, 3 and 4. It is movably mounted, in order that the upperfeedroll 8 may be caused to approach the. lower feed-roll 7 for thepurpose of clamping the sheet 5 between the two feed-rolls, or may bemoved away from the lower feed-roll so as to release the said sheet, thecapacity for movement being provided for, also, in order to permit ofthe adjustment of the closeness of approach of the two feed-rolls toeach other to suit the thickness of the sheet 5 or to vary thlecompression of the said sheet by the feedro s.

For convenience in effecting the se ara,- tion of the two rolls, whennecessary, I ave provided means for manually moving the carrier 82, thesaid means in the j present instance comprising an arm 83, extendingfrom carrier 82 and having joined therewith a connection 84, Figsfl and3, extending downward to a suitable treadle or the'like which isconveniently located with reference to the operator. The upper feed-roll8 is pressed toward the lower feed-roll 7 with yielding force, to clampthe sheet of material 5 between the two feed-rolls, by means of a spirals ring, as 9, Fig. 2 having one extremity t ereof connected with a screw91, applied to the carrier 82, and its other extremity connected With ascrew 92 applied to the standard4. For the transmission of rotarymovement from the lower feed-roll 7 to the upper 'feed-roll 8, theshafts 71 and 81, respectively,

havefxed thereon the spur-gears 75, 85, respectively', which intermesh,as in Fig. 2, when the upper feed-roll occupies the working positionthereof which is represented in the drawings. The peripheries of thefeedrolls 7, 8, are circumferentially grooved, as at 76, 86, Figs. 1, 2and 4, and the cutting end of the knife 6 projects between the saidfeedrolls, into the grooves thereof, as best shown in Fig. 4, its edgepreferably being located at the point of nearest approach of thesurfaces of the feed-rolls to each other, where the sheet 5 is n'ostfirmly held by the feed-rolls,

thereby securing the best results in the cutting.

Means is provided for preventing the sheet 5 from advancing bodilyacross the -table in the direction of the .peripheral feed that isproduced by the action of the feedrolls 7 and 8. In the presentinstance, this function is performed by the spindle 101, Figs. 1 and 2.The upper ortion of the said spindle passes through a ho e in sheet-5 atthe center o said sheet. Hence, in consequence of the-engagement of thesaid feed-rolls with the marginal portion onlyof the said sheet at oneside ofthe center of the latter, the action of the said feed-rollsoccasions a rotary movement of the disk-like sheet. For convenience ofdesignation, I term the spindle 101 a center. uitable provision is made,also, for permitting or causing the sheet to advance transversely ordiametrically with relation to the cutting edge of the knife. Thus, thesupport for spindle 101 is made movable so as to enable the spindle toadvance .toward the knife by a progressive movement as the cutting ofsheet 5 proceeds. Consequently, as the sheet rotates, its marginalportion is cut away spirally by the knife 6 in theform of a continuousstrip 51, the operation proceeding without break until the centralortion of the disk-like sheet is reached. he advance of the disk-likesheet 5 transversely or diametrically with relation to the cutting edgeof the knife (i may be provided for by various means, andA I do notnecessarily in embodiments of the broader phases of the invention limitmyself with respect thereto.v

Having reference to the drawin s, the work-supporting table 2 is slottedengthwise, as at 21. To the edges of the slot 21, at opposite sides vofthe latter, are applied strips or gibs 22, 22, and 23, 23: rIhese stripsor gibs are attached to the upper and the strips or gibs 23, 23, andthereby the l to be produced. Thus, in the present embodiment of theinvention the said slide 10 is provided with bearings in which thespindle 101 is mounted, and the said spindle is c'onnected with thesheet5, at the center of the latter, in such manner as to cause the saidspindle to be rotated from the said sheet as the latter is caused toturn by the action of the feed-rolls during-the cutting operation. Thereeise manner of operatively connect- -ing t e sheet 5 with the spindle101 so as to cause the said spindle to rotate in unison with thedisk-like sheet 5 may vary in practice, but in the present instance Ihave shown the up er portion of the spindle 101 rising througii theopening between the proximate edges of the upper strips or gibs 22, 22,and carrying a disk 103. rIhe central hole that is made in sheet 5enables the said sheet to pass over the upper portion of the spindle 101and rest upon the disk 103. At 104 is a cylindrical weight having acentral hole, which enables the said weight to be placed upon the upperportion of spindle 101 so as to compress the centra-l portion of thesheet 5 between the lower end of the weight and the disk 103. At 105,105, are shown pins or projections with which the disk 103 is provided,the said pins or projections engaging with the sheet 5. The rotarymovement of the spindleis made operative to control or occasion theadvance of the spindle and its support toward the cutting-point, asfollows: A

spur-pinion `106 upon s indle 101 meshes with a spur-gear 107 havlngfast therewith a spur-pinion 108 which meshes with a rack 109. The saidrack is mounted in fixed position at the under side of the-work-supporting table 2, closely adjacent the opening between the lowerstrips or gibs '23, 23'. 'l he rotation which is transmitted from thesheet 5 to the spindle 101 acts to rotate the gearing 106, 107, 108, andthus the movement of pinion 108 along the fixed rack 109 is providedfor. The proportions of the -gears are such as toenable the sheet to beadvanced at the rate required for the production of the desired width ofstrip 51. By a change of such proportions, the relative rate of theadvance may be varied. Pinion 108 preferably is the change gear. Thedescribed mechanism is characterized vby the fact that the moving sheet5 is itself a means of transmitting movement to the devicesby which thead- Vance of thesheet in a diametrical direction relative to the cuttingknife is controlled or effected.

' For the purpose of facilitating the operation of moving the slide 10by hand len thwise of the table 2, as when it is desire to move it awayfrom the knife, or ad'ust it to starting position, provisions are ma eforenabling the gear-connections to be disconnected whenever desired,thereby rendering the slide free to have communicated tothe A samemanually or otherwise Whatever movement lengthwise of the table may befound desirable. To this end, in the present instance, I have mountedthe gear 107 'and pinion 108 movably upon the -slide 10, so as Vtopermit the pinion 108 to be shifted into and out of engagement with theteeth of the fixed rack 109 whenever required. The said gear and pinionare fitted to a stud 110 carried by an arm 111 which is hung upon thespindle 101. In the swinging movements of the arm 111, the gear 107moves concentrically with relation to the pinion 106, and hence suchswinging movements do not disturb the relations of the gear and saidpinion 106. By means of a spring 112, which is carried by the slide 10and acts against a pin 113 projecting from the arm 111, the arm 111 isheld normally in a position in which the pinion 108 meshes with theteeth of the fixed rack 109.

For the urpose of enabling vthe arm 111 conveniently to be moved by handso as to carry the pinion 108 out of mesh with the teeth of the fixedrack 109, I provide the block 10 with a sliding bolt 1 14, the said boltworking in a longitudinal hole 1 15in the said slide and carrying a pin116. The u per end of this pin projects within reach at t e up er sideof the table, as indicated in Figs. 2 and) 3, while the lower endthereof rojects into position to engage with an inc ined-or camsha edsurface 117 on the arm 111. By 110 app ying pressure to the up er end ofthe pin 116 so as to move the sai pin and its carrying bolt 114 in adirection to cause the lower'end of the pin to bear against the inclinedor cam-shaped surface 117 of the arm 115 111, the latter is movedagainst the tension of the spring 112 in a direction to disengage thepinion 108 from the rack 109 and render the slide 10 free to be movedwithin theslot 21 as may be found necessary. The knife 6 ischisel-edged, and'f, has its oblique surface turned away from the centerof the sheet 5. The knife is mounted with its working end inclinedslightly toward the center of the sheet 5, as indicated in Fig. 6. 125The action of the knife in cutting is thereby caused to strain theleather toward the knife. The axes of the rolls, also, preferably aredis osed at a slight angle with respect to a ra 'al line passing throughthe axis of the 130 center or spindle 101, as indicated in Fig. 6. Thisposition of the rolls causes the latter, in rotating, to draw the sheet5 in a radial direction toward the knife.

5 I claim as my invention:-

1. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip, comprising, essentially, a cutter, occupying' arelatively fixed position, and means of producing a spiral feed of thesheet of leather or other material to the said cutter, the said meansengaging with the uncut portion of the said sheet substantially asdescribed.

2. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous stri comprising, essentially, a cutter, feed-rol s adj acentthe cutter engaging with-the uncut marginal portion of the sheet to becut, a centering device engaging with the said sheet, and a' support onwhich the said centering device is movable toward said knife to occasiona s iral feed of the sheet to the knife, substantially as described.

3. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material int-o acontinuous stri comprising, essentially, a cutter, feed-rol s adjacentthe cutter engaging with the uncut marginal portion of the sheet to becut, a center engaging with the sheet, and means to feed said centertoward the cutter, to cause a spiral feed of the sheet to the cutter bythe combined action ofthe parts, substantially as described.

4. A machine forcutting leather or other sheet material spirally into acontinuous strip, comprising, essentially, a cutter, feedrolls engagingwith the uncut marginal por tions of the sheet material which is to becut to advance such portion to the cutter, a

centering device engaging with Y the said sheet material, and meansacting positively to move the said centering device at a predeterminedrate toward the cutter.

`5. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, a cutter, feed-rolls engagingwith the uncut marginal portion of the sheet to be cut and meansoperated by the rotating sheet to feed the latter diametrically withrelation to the cutter to occasion a continuous spiral cut in saidsheet, substantially as described.

6. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, a fixed knife or cutter,

eed-rolls engaging with the uncut marginal portion of the sheet to becut to cause the marginal portion of the sheet to be advanced to thecutter to be cut, a center engaging Withthe sheet, and means operated bythe rotating sheet -to feed said center diametrically toward the cutter,substantially as described. v 7. A machine for cutting leather or othersheet-material into a continuous-strip comsheet bein cut rb tata-e bythe said sheet, a

'vance thereto the marginal prising, essentially, a fixed knife orcutter,

eed-rolls adjacent the same engaging with the uncut marginal portion ofthe sheet to be cut, and operating to advance the same against the saidknife4 or cutter, fa centerin 70 device engaging with the sheet beingcut an partaking of the rotation of the said sheet, and feeding meansoperated through the rotation of said centering device to` feed thesheet toward the cutter, to occasion a continuous s iral cut in saidsheet, .substantially as escribed. 8. A machine for cutting leather orother. sheet-material into a continuous strip comprising, essentially,,a cutter, feed-rolls adjacent the same, a centering device for therelatively ediack, and'means intermediate said rack and centering deviceand operated by the latter to feed the said device and sheet toward thecutter, substantially as described. i

9. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material. into acon'tinuous'strip comprising, essentially, a cutter, feed-rolls adjacentthesame, a centering device engaging with the sheet being cut androtating therewith, caring in operative connection with the-said device,and arelatively fixed rack with which said gearing engages whereby thefeed of the centering device and the sheet engaged therewith toward thecutter is occasioned, substantially as described.

10. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip cornprising, essentially, a cutter, means to advancethereto the marginal ortion of the sheet being cut, a centering evic'efor said sheet rotatable thereby, means in o erative connection with.said device for feeding the same toward the cutter, and disconnectingmeans to release the centering device, 'substantially as described.

11. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, a cutter, means' to advancethereto the marginal ortion of the sheet being cut, a centering devicefor said sheet rotatable therewith, a relatively fixed rack, gearinintermediate said centering device and rac to regulate the feed of thesaid device toward the cutter, and a support for said gearing movable todisconnect the latter from lthe said rack, .substantially as described.

12. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip co'rnprising, essentially, a cutter, means to adortionof the sheet being cut, a centering evicefor said sheet rotatabletherewith, a support for said device movable toward said cutter, arelatively ixed rack, gearing intermediate said device and rack toregulate the feed of the device toward the cutter, and a shipper forsaid gearing whereby to place the same in 130 and out of operativerelations with said rack, substantially as described.

13. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, an obliquely set cutter, meansengaging With the uncut ortion of the sheet from which the stri is eingproduced to advance the margina portion of the said sheet to the saidcutter, and means to gage the Width of the strip that is spirallysevered from the sheet, the Obliquity of the cutter` operating to strainthe said sheet transversely With relation to the cutterand s .therebyoperating to hold the sheet pressed againstthegage to insure uniformityin the Width ofthe strip, substantially as described.

14. A machine for cuttingleather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, an obliquely set cutter,means. engaging 'with the uncut portion of the sheet which is to be cutto advance the marginal portion of the said sheet to the cutter, acentering device for said sheet, and

means to gage the Width of the strip that is being cut, the obliquity ofthe cutter operating to strain the said sheet radially outward towardthe cutter, substantially as described.

15. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, a cutter, feed-rolls toadvance to the cutter the marginal portion of the sheet from which thestrip is produced, means to gage the width of the strip that is spirallysevered from the sheet, and means su porting the said feed-rolls Withtheir axes ob 'que or inclined whereby the said sheet is strainedtransversely With relation to the cutter, substantially as described.

16. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, a cutter, feed-rolls toadvance to the cutter the marginal portion of the sheet from Which thestrip is produced, a centering device for the said sheet, means to gagethe Width of the strip that is spirally severed from the sheet, andmeans sup orting the said feed-rolls with their axes ob ique or inclinedwhereby the said sheet is strained transversely with relation to thecutter, substantially as described.

17. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentiall the obliquely set cutter, theobliquely-set eed-rolls to advance to the said cutter the marginalportion of the sheet from which the strip is being produced, and meansto gage the Width of the strip that is spirally cut from the said sheet,substantially as described.

18. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, the obliquely-set cutter, theobliquely set feed-rolls to advance to the said cutter the marginalportion of the sheet from which the strip is'being produced, a centeringdevice for the said sheet, and means to gage the Width of the strip thatis spirally cut from the said sheet, substantially as described. v

19. A machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip comprising, essentially, a cutter, a centering devicefor the sheet being cut rotated by said sheet, a carrier for the saidcentering device,

and feeding means operated throughthe rotation of the sheet to feed thelatter toward the cutter to occasion a continuous spiral cut in saidsheet, lsaid means lcom rising a train Which is separable to permit t esaid carrier to be shifted n1 ositio'n in the direction toward and from.t e cutter'by hand.

20. In a machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material spirallyinto a continuous strip, in combination, a cutter, feed-rolls, a movablecarrier `for oneof the said feedrolls, a spring operating said carrierto move such feed-roll toward the other one, and a centering devicemovable radially toward the cutter.

21. In a machine for cutting leather Aor other sheet-materialspirally'into a' continuous strip, in combination, a cutter, feed-rolls,a movable carrier for one of the said feedrolls, a spring operating thesaid carrier to move such feed-roll toward the other one, means foroperating the said carrier to separate the feed-rolls, and a centeringdevice movablev radially toward the cutter.

22. In a machine for cuttin leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip, in combination, a iixed cutter,.a centering device forthe sheet-material, movable toward the said cutter, and groovedfeed-rolls receiving the actin end of the cutter in their groovessubstantia ly at the bite of the feedrolls.

23. In a machine for cutting other sheet-material into a continuousstrip, in combination, an obliquely-disposed fixed cutter, a centeringdevice for the sheet-material, movable toward the said cutter, andgrooved feed-rolls receiving the acting end of the cutter in theirgrooves substantially at the bite of the feed-rolls.

24. In a machine for cutting leather or other sheet-material into acontinuous strip, in combination, a fixed cutter, a centering device forthe sheet-material, movable toward the said cutter, and upper and lowerfeed-rolls havin the bite t ately adjacent t e acting end of the cutter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

CHAs. F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A. COPELAND.

leather or ereof immedi-

